Franco to move tack to Lone Star Park

Geovanni Franco, who has won seven races at Santa Anita and Turf Paradise this year, is relocating to Lone Star Park in Texas next month.

Franco is currently riding at Turf Paradise in Phoenix where through Thursday, he had four wins this month. Franco is booked to ride four stakes at Turf Paradise on Saturday.

The Lone Star Park meeting begins on April 16. Franco said he plans to ride at Oaklawn Park and Sunland Park in early April. Later this year, Franco said he will ride the Thoroughbred meeting at Remington Park.

Through Thursday, Franco, 35, has won 1,072 races in a career that began in 2009.

Franco said the move to Texas is designed to increase business. He said he plans to ride extensively for trainer Robertino Diodoro at Lone Star. On Saturday at Turf Paradise, Franco has three mounts on runners trained by Diodoro.

“It’s a good move from California to the Midwest,” he said in a recent interview. “Hopefully, I can pick up the pace.

:: Santa Anita Classic Meet! Get DRF Past Performances, Clocker Reports, and more.

“I held on as much as I could. I love California racing, but I have an opportunity to ride for Robertino.”

Franco has never ridden at Lone Star Park. In 2016, Franco won 32 races at Remington Park, finishing seventh in the standings.

Franco won the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar last summer on Lovesick Blues, who later finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar in November. In his lone start this year, Lovesick Blues was fifth in the Group 2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia with Franco aboard.

Lovesick Blues is currently in Dubai for the Group 1 Golden Shaheen Sprint at Meydan Racecourse on March 28. Franco said in a text message on Friday that he does not have the mount for that race.

Lovesick Blues is trained by Librado Barocio, who is currently in Dubai. Barocio said in a text message on Friday morning that European-based jockey Mickael Barzalona will ride Lovesick Blues in the $2 million Golden Shaheen at six furlongs.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.